Tuning key for string instruments



March 6, 1928. 1,661,708

. T. H. STARK TUNING KEY FOR STRING INSTRUMENTS Fild y 1a. 1926ATTORNEYS,

Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT THEODORE H. STARK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TOC. BRUNO & SON, INQ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEVQ" YORK.

TUNING KEY FOR STRING INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed May 18, 1926. Serial No. 109,831.

My invention relates to a new and improved form of tuning key for stringinstruments.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide tuning key fortightening the strings of musical instruments which will be self-lockingand which will not require the use of any coil springs or the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich shall be very simple and cheap to construct and assemble and whichwill be very reliable in its operation.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the followingdescription and drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it being understood that the above general, statement of theobjects of my invention is intended merely to generally explain the sameand not to limit it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a top View.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 38 of Fig. 2.

Fig. t is a Fig. 3.

The musical instrument 1 can be of any suitable type and it is providedwith strings 2 of any suitable type. The well known parts of a stringinstrument are not illustrated in the drawings, as in themselves theyare old and well known and form no part of my invention.

The head 9 of the instrument is provided with a series of openings inwhich the keys are located. Assuming, for the purpose of convenience,and for defining the relative positions of the parts in the claim, thatthe instrument is held in the horizontal position illustrated in Fig. 1,it is clear from Fig. 3 that the underside of each said opening 16 isprovided with a conical end in which the hollow friction cone 4 of thekey is adapted to fit. Each key comprises a shank 15 having anon-circular cross-section, such as the square cr0ss-section illustratedin Fig. 1-. Each key is also provided with an intermediate portion 14whose diameter is slightly greater than the diameter of the shank 15,and each key is also provided with a head 8 whose diameter is slightlygreater than the diameter of the intermediate portion 14.

section on the line 14 of The intermediate portion 14: and the head 8each have preferably a circular cross-section. Each head 8 provided withan opening 7 into which the end of the respective string 2 can beinserted. The diameter of the head 8 is less than the diameter of therespective opening 16, and hence a perforated washer 10 is providedwhose outer diameter is slightly greater than the diameter of theopening 16 and whose inner diameter is slightly less than the diameterof the head 8. Each shank 15 is internally threaded and the linger-piece3 of the key is held in position upon the shank 15 by means of a screw 5which is associated with a washer 6.

he parts are assembled by placing the washer 10 in the position shown inF ig. 3, then pushing the key downwardly into the position shown in saidfigure, then slipping upon the said hey the friction cone 4 so that itenters the respective opening 16. Then the finger-piece 3 of each key isplaced into the proper position, and then by suitably tightening thescrew 5 the finger-piece 3 is forced against the friction cone 4- sothat said friction cone l makes firm frictional contact with theadjacent part of the opening 16. The key can now be turned so as to windup the string. The screw 5 is ti htened up sufiiciently to cause thefriction cone l to turn with the key at all times andirrespective of thetightness of the string. The cone 4: is made of a thin sheet ofresilient metal, and since the frictional hold between said cone and thefinger-piece 3 is stronger than the frictional hold between said cone 4and the bottom of opening 16, the cone 4 turns with the key at alltimes. Although I have shown a cone 4 in the preferred embodimentillustrated, I do not wish to restrict myself to this specific contour.If, therefore, a key is turned so as to exert considerable tension uponthe string, the tension of the string causes the friction cone t topress even more firmly against the respective conical face of theopening 16 and this friction causes the key to become self-locking sothat the tension on the string is not lessened when the hold upon thekey has been released.

It is obvious that the device embodies no coil springs or supplementalsprings of any kind and that. it can be made of aminimum number of partsand with great'cheapness.

The head 3 is provided with a bore corresponding" in shape and diameterto the shank 15, so that the top of thehead cannot be pushed above thebottom of the intermediate portion let.

I have described a preferredembodiment of my invention, but it is clear,that ENERGY; ous changes and omissions could be made without departingfrom its-spirit.-

I claim In combination with musical string in struinent having a headpiece provided with a bore adapted to receive a key, a key located insaid bore and having a first end portion projecting beyond the upper"face of the head piece of the said instrument, the second end port-ionot the said key projecting beyond the lower face of saidhead piece andhaving an internally threaded recess in the memos said'finger-piece, thetop of the said friction cone projecting into the bore of the head pieceand being located below the top of the said bore, the said cone having aportion thereof abutting the inner wall of said bore, and a tighteningscrew having a head located at the underside of the said finger piece,the

shank of the said screw being locatedin said internally 'ithreadedrecess.

7 l ntestiniony whereof I affix my signature.

THEODORE H. STARK.

